New Headquarters For District 156

May 29, 1995|By Richard Rostron.

McHenry — The Zoning Board of Appeals has recommended on a 4-1 vote that the city allow an expansion of McHenry High School District 156's zoning permit at the district's West Campus so that an administration building can be built.

District officials said they hope to build the new headquarters next to the north parking lot of the school, at 4724 W. Crystal Lake Rd. The new, 3,200-square-foot structure would replace the district's current office at 3926 W. Main St., McHenry.

Scott Steingraeber, an architect for Legat Architects, designer of the facility, estimated the building would cost close to $275,000 to construct.

John Swierk, the Zoning Board of Appeals member who cast the sole dissenting vote, said, "I'm opposed to it architecturally.

"They want to put this building on the site of the high school that's basically just a box," Swierk said. "It doesn't belong on the campus of a very nice high school."

Steingraeber disagreed, saying, "The building is being constructed within the guidelines of the codes and ordinances of the City of McHenry. Legat Architects does not set out to do inappropriate buildings."

Currently, District 156 shares its Main Street offices with Elementary School District 15. District 15 is relocating its headquarters to the old library on Green Street, across the street from the McHenry High School East Campus.